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I need to design a membrane PCB for a keyboard and/or flexible double sided PCB that works like a membrane PCB. My problem here is that I don't know how to do the buttons, with one contact of the button in one layer and the other contact in another layer. Similar to what can be seen in this image:

Example PCB

Also: Which software is better for doing this, Proteus or Altium?

SamGibson
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vram
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  • Are you planning to use printed carbon or ? Why reinvent the button keyboard?!what MTBF spec do you need? – Tony Stewart EE75 Jul 20 '18 at 20:08
  • I'm not planning to reinvent the button keyboard, is my first keyboard design and I see that one contact of the button is in one layer and the other contact is in the other layer, in fact, the keyboard in the layer is the one that I need to replace. I'm asking for help on how to make the buttons because I don´t know how and also I don't have the original design so I must do the design myself. Thanks for the help. – vram Jul 23 '18 at 13:38
  • material compatibility to prevent oxidation is need such as gold alloy finish (ENIG) – Tony Stewart EE75 Jul 23 '18 at 16:00
  • ok, thank you, so may be membrane would be the one I think – vram Jul 23 '18 at 17:00
  • so why can you not buy a standard membrane keypad? instead reinventing the problems to solve "inventing" your first design – Tony Stewart EE75 Jul 23 '18 at 17:03

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With custom PCB's like flex or membrane usually the manufacturer will take gerbers, so it doesn't matter what software you use. But the manufacturer will have different requirements than a normal PCB. Pick a manufacturer, then work with them on how to draw up the stackup, minimum trace and contact requirements.

Altium does have the ability to create layers\stackup for flex circuits.

Voltage Spike
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  • Thank you so much for the clarification, could you give me some advices on how to make the buttons?. I don't have the original design so I have to do it myself. Thanks for the help. – vram Jul 23 '18 at 13:40
  • Who is your manufacturer? – Voltage Spike Jul 23 '18 at 14:05
  • Well, I've only talked with PCBway but I haven't send the gerber file yet, I'm currently doing the design by simply drawing tracks and about to finish it – vram Jul 23 '18 at 16:58